Jammu and Kashmir Police prevents Syed Ali Geelani from holding press conference following NIA raids

Srinagar: A press conference called by senior separatist leader, Syed Ali Geelani on Sunday was not allowed to be held by the authorities, said a spokesman of his Hurriyat faction. [caption id=“attachment_3759435” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Syed Ali Shah Geelani. AFP[/caption] Geelani had called a press conference at his uptown Hyderpora residence where the octogenarian separatist leader has been placed under house arrest, but police did not allow any media person to enter Geelani’s residence, the spokesman said. The press conference had been called to counter “the false and baseless propaganda by NIA (National Investigation Agency) and Indian media against Geelani, his family and party leaders,” said the spokesman, adding that Geelani is exploring ways and means to take legal action against the NIA and the media for maligning his image and that of his family members and party leaders. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday raided the house of a businessman considered close to Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani in Jammu. Informed sources said the NIA carried out the raid on Devender Singh Behl in Baskshi Nagar area in this winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir. Geelani’s son-in-law Altaf Ahmad Shah is presently in NIA remand in connection with allegations of terror funding in the Kashmir Valley. Six other separatist leaders are also on remand with the NIA for custodial interrogation in this case.